Hand Carved Wahaika on Stand - by Jason Holder

Wahaika (short club)

NZ Totara Wood

Handcarved by Jason Holder - Maniapoto Iwi.

"Tu" the Maori God of War is carved on the front of the wahaika.

Tūmatauenga (Tū of the angry face) is the primary god (atua) of war and human activities such as hunting, food cultivation, fishing, and cooking in Māori mythology. 

Wahaika: 38cm x 11.5cm x 3cm
Stand: 20cm x 4.5cm x 5cm

About Wahaika:

A Wahaika is a type of traditional Maori hand weapon. Wahaika are club-like weapons usually made of wood, whalebone or pounamu and are used for thrusting and striking in close-quarter, hand to hand fighting.

Wahaika translates to "mouth of the fish",  reference to the notch on one side which is used to catch an opponent's weapon. On the other side just above the handle the concave tip above a carved humanoid figure is the primary striking edge, particularly used against the opponent's temples, face, and ribs. The rest of the spherical edge is sharp like a blade.